Al Qaeda again threatens America (Thread 3) Daily Terror Threat

SANAA, Yemen, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- A purported statement by al-Qaida in Yemen warned Saturday of a "major strike" soon in the United States.

The statement, distributed by the Yemeni Tagamoo Party for Reforms, said: "A major strike, a big event will take place in America soon," reminiscent of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Was Al Qaeda Working on a Super Bomb?

Aired January 24, 2002 - 20:00 ET

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOETTCHER (voice over): More than a neighborhood, Wazir Arkvar Khan was a campus, a terrorist university for teaching about powerful explosives. This house was a Saudi-funded orphanage that was apparently a front for an al Qaeda training center.

Inside, CNN was led in to rooms strewn with articles left behind by its inhabitants. Among the children's books and orphan ID documents, were trip wires, grenades, a rocket, and these manuals.

ALBRIGHT: They have their own formula for making C-4, which is a military explosive, so they were creating a cadre of people who could go out and try to put together bombs that would have little chance of being detected.

And so, they're not going out to steal military explosives from a base. They're going out and then going to a grocery store, a pharmacy, medical supply store, and buying chemicals, and then making them themselves. And so, it was a group that was being taught to be self-reliant.

BOETTCHER: Other documents shown to CNN reveal the presence of a core group of experts that put together what is known as the al Qaeda encyclopedia.

CNN was shown its 10 volumes and its latest edition, Volume 11 on explosives. A section was provided to CNN. Our experts determined this chapter was to update people in the field about new research results. It includes extensive documentation of how to improve explosives, particularly RDX.

"The goal, to obtain ammonium nitrate free of foreign matter in order to prepare RDX by the new method." BOETTCHER (on camera): RDX can be used as a main explosive charge or a detonator. It is the primary component in a plastic explosive used by terrorists. Known commercially as Semtex, the U.S. military version, developed in the '50s is C-4.

Now research in these documents indicates that al Qaeda was trying to develop its very own brand, one that could be used as a detonator in a very powerful bomb.

VILLA: And the circuitry ultimately ending up with a detonator. BOETTCHER (voice over): Tony Villa is an explosives expert, who has worked extensively for the U.S. Government.

VILLA: One of the advantages would be that you would have it, you would number one have that knowledge and you could, your mobility to move from place to place without having to go back in touch on a resource or touch base with a resource to get that product, leaves you a lot more latitude for mobility and autonomy.

BOETTCHER (voice over): In the super bomb document found by CNN, it is clear al Qaeda wanted to build the biggest bomb of all. The author clearly is knowledgeable of various ways to set off a nuclear bomb.

For example, a little known shortcut to initiate a nuclear explosion is described, but Albright cautions there is no indication that al Qaeda's nuclear work has gone beyond theory.

BOETTCHER (on camera): Why couldn't they build something that could be very destructive, judging by what you've read?

ALBRIGHT: If you're going to make something like a nuclear weapon, you have to learn many things. It is a whole set of manufacturing steps you have to go through, and there's none of that in this manual.

You also have to develop confidence in a design. I mean even a terrorist group that's going to go to the trouble to work on a nuclear weapon, wants to have some certainty that it's going to explode as a nuclear explosive, and not just explode as a high explosive.

BOETTCHER (voice over): Did these men help provide that expertise? Pakistani nuclear scientist Bashirrudin Makmood and Abdul Majid remain confined to their homes on the orders of Pakistan's government, and are not allowed to speak to anyone outside their families.

They are suspected by American, Pakistani, and other coalition intelligence agencies of having provided some of their nuclear knowledge to al Qaeda. Makmood and Majid spent lots of time in Kabul, running a charity called Ummah Tummir-e Nau.

In an office in the lobby of Kabul's intercontinental hotel, CNN found a document apparently written last May, showing Makmood had agreed to a partnership with Beracat General Trading and Contracting Company. The Beracat group of companies is on the U.S. list of those suspected of aiding terrorists.

Another document shows plans to set up a bank with Beracat, expand an artificial limb factory, and explore the mining of minerals, including uranium inside Afghanistan. U.N. weapons inspectors say Iraq used similar companies as fronts to disguise its nuclear weapons program in the mid-1990s.

Last month, the Bush Administration put Makmood's organization, Ummah Tummir-e Nau, on its terrorist watch list. CNN's repeated efforts to speak with the men were unsuccessful. However, the families of the nuclear scientists continue to say the two men have done nothing wrong.

While the Pakistani government has filed no charges against the men, the government says the investigation is not over, nor are the U.S. efforts to find what al Qaeda was up to.

Nuclear Safety and Security in Pakistan: Under the shades of terrorism
by Dr. Rajesh Kumar Mishra

Conclusion:

"The fact that Al-Qaida may have an intrusive control over Pakistanís nuclear weapons components or infrastructure cannot be ruled out. Pakistan for having its command and control basically human-centric with systemic weak communication network may provide opportunity to the rogue elements to have access to both nuclear material and know-how. However, a stitch in time saves nine.

The imminent threat today is of falling of nuclear weapons in the hands of military/non-military personnel with extreme religious fervour, and accidents both human and technical.

While the movement of nuclear warheads, components and radioactive substances from one place to another inside the country remains vulnerable to theft or sabotage, the movement and intentions of the scientific and engineering community in and outside Pakistan requires to be closely watched.

Prevalence of rational decision-making has always been questionable in Pakistan due to political and military brinkmanship. So remains the safety and security of the Pakistanís nuclear complex."

An excellent read.

AP Interview: TERRORISTS "DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN" TO MAKE DIRTY BOMB

By STEVEN GUTKIN

The Associated Press
2/9/04 1:47 AM

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Terrorists have the will and some of the expertise to make a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapon, and are "doing everything they can" to acquire the materials, the U.S. State Department's top anti-terror official said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Cofer Black, U.S. ambassador at large for anti-terrorism, said al-Qaida is still dangerous even though more than two-thirds of its leaders from the time of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks have been killed or arrested.

Speaking at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Jakarta on Saturday, Black said he and other U.S. officials are "killing ourselves" to make sure terrorists don't get a so-called "dirty bomb" or other unconventional weapons, but the threat remains.

"We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that a number of these groups, if they had it, would use it," said Black, who accompanied U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to an Asia Pacific anti-terror summit on the Indonesian island of Bali last week.

"They've got the will. A lot of these guys seek the expertise, and there's a reasonable amount of that out there, but what you're really looking for is the coming together of all the factors: the will, the expertise and the materials," he said.

Authorities fear terrorists could create a dirty bomb, which would use conventional explosives to disperse a plume of radioactive dust over a city. Unlike a nuclear weapon, a dirty bomb would not ignite an atomic chain reaction and would not require highly enriched uranium or plutonium, which are hard to obtain. The materials could be a lower-grade isotope, like those used in medicine or research. Black's comments follow recent revelations that the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, Abdul Qadeer Khan, sold equipment related to centrifuges, used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons, to Iran, Libya and North Korea. Experts say the same black market that enabled those countries to obtain nuclear weapons technology might also have supplied bomb components or plans to terrorists. "If al-Qaida were to put together a radiological device, they're going to use it," Black said. "We know that they have the determination, they've killed large numbers before, their objective is to kill more, they're doing everything they can to acquire this type of weapon and we are working to try to prevent it."

He said that anti-terror officials use the initials CBRN to rank the threats' order of probability: "chemical, bacteriological, radiological and nuclear -- chemical the most likely and nuclear the least."

Al-Qaida's apparent interest in acquiring nuclear technology came to the fore in 2001 when two Pakistani nuclear scientists were arrested after meeting Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan on suspicion of giving away secrets. The scientists were later released without being charged. Al Qaida, said Black, has been badly damaged since Sept. 11 and now has "less leadership personnel with which to plan and validate operations" but "that still doesn't stop them from being very dangerous."

"We are concerned about the next generation, guys seven to 12 years younger, who are flush with disturbed radical emotion but less well-trained," he said.

Government officials attending last week's anti-terror summit on Bali -- site of a devastating attack in 2002 by the al-Qaida linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror group -- called on Asia Pacific states to work to prevent the illegal movement of nuclear, chemical and biological materials. But delegates said the threat of unconventional weapons falling into the hands of terrorists was not discussed at any length during the two-day event.

Black said he believed Jemaah Islamiyah remains the most dangerous terrorist threat in this region because of its "association with al-Qaida, the substantial training received in Afghanistan, their contact and connection to these radicalized groups in the Middle East."

as i have promissed you all a surprise for every one that wants to know the mojahideen up close and personal, to people who want to see who are the mojahideen and what they do?
how do they live thier lifes ? what do they stand for and what do they fight for?

in the way to trying to show you all that i would like from you to set back relax and watch a a documintry done by (Sahaab production) which is the media and production center of Al-Qaida.

this documintry is about a muslim legend,
a real mojahid,
some one who has gave alot to islam,
protected,helped, and fought for Islam in times were men like him were very few,
he stod up to the chalenge and answerd the call of jehad with everything possible,
giving his wealth,heart, soul and life for a faith that made him always want to give more.

with out any more introduction to this worrior of Islam i will leave you to decide and have a look by your self and judge what kind of men are these!?

i will leave you with (the sword of Islam)

to download the video (its in 2 parts) go to :
http://www.filein.com/download.php
put in the account name : daleelalmojahid

then press on find files from this user.

once you are in the files section u will see 2 files by the name :
khattab1
khattab2

i hope you will enjoy this close up to the life of the mojahideen and will make you open your eyes more to who they really are and what they stand for in life.

ps. i have also included in the files a file called : why911, this is an adition to you all whom still dont know why9 - 11really happend!! its a short movie that speaks in your languge.

ps. (the sword of islam) movie is in the arabic languge, but u dont need to really understand the talking to see what i am trying to show you,
but if you would like to understand what is being said then ask any arab friend to watch with you and trasulate on the way.

may god protect you all and bless you.

alaah akbaar
daleel_almojahid

__________________
alaaah akbaar
Daleel_Almojahid

That films is about Ibn-ul-Khattab, who was one of the leaders of the Chechen mujahadeen group. He's also the dead guy who was posted in the earlier thread - I think it had like 9 pictures with Arabic writing. I translated it for someone.

He's a big folk hero for Al Qaeda - there are numerous Shockwave presentations glorifying his life.

Excellent article on him at:
http://www.diacritica.com/sobaka/dossier/khattab.html

Name: Ibn-ul-Khattab
Location: Chechnya
Affiliation: Chechen rebel army
Profession: soldier, mercenary, aspiring movie producer
Born: 1969
Died: March 19, 2002
Claim to Fame: great hair
Body Count: hundreds
Other: real name: Samir Saleh Abdullah Al-Suwailem

Samir Saleh Abdullah Al-Suwailem, alias Ibn-ul-Khattab, the Russians' favourite foreign mujahid fighting in Chechnya, was reported to have been killed fighting in Konduz, Afghanistan, along with Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader Djuma Namangani. The rumour turned out to be false. Khattab was nowhere near Afghanistan, and the Russians knew it all along. A few months later they bribed a Chechen messenger into taking out Khattab with a boobytrapped letter containing a poisonous agent. Chechen sources confirmed his death as occuring on or about March 19, 2002.
Though a few overexcited freelancers claimed to know who the emir under the bedsheet was, the true identity, country of origin - even the real name of the self-proclaimed Commander of the Foreign Mujahedin in Chechnya - remained a mystery. Khattab claimed to be thirty years of age, though other accounts had him closer to thirty-five. He said that he was born in Saudi Arabia to wealthy, Bedouin parents. Others pegged him as one "Habib Abdel Rahman Khatab", born to Chechen parents in the small diaspora that lives in Jordan.

All of it was finally settled when his brother broke the silence to Arab News after his death. His real name was Samir Saleh Abdullah Al-Suwailem, and he was born in the Saudi Arabian border town of Arar in the hippie solstice of 1969. He was, to hear his brother's rose-tinted view of their childhood, a nice, sensitive boy who often wept for no reason and liked to fix cars and run errands for strangers. He was highly intelligent and his parents hoped he would go to America to study medicine. He went to Afghanistan to kill Russians instead.

Khattab left home to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan at the age of 17, an exceptionally young age among the foreign volunteers recruited with the CIA's assistance. In Afghanistan he drank curdled milk with Osama bin Laden, traded pogs with Taleban leader Mullah Omar and blew two fingers off when tossing a homemade grenade. Khattab was also distinguished for an exceptional streak of cruelty. Most mujahids would use Soviet prisoners as bargaining chips. Khattab would expedite the process by leaving their corpses near the local base, with their throats ripped out.

Khattab claimed to have fought for the fundamentalists in Tajikistan from 1993-95, when he discovered Chechnya and the great opportunity to kill Russians in their own land.

He posed as a television reporter to get to know people. Along the way he met Shamil Basayev, a famous Chechen commander and the most wanted man in Russia. The latter hasn't been the same ever since. Khattab spurred on Basayev to send a battalion of their homegrown fundamentalist army into the neighbouring Russian province of Dagestan in 1999, a disaster which led to the massive Russian invasion of Chechnya five months later.

In the present war, outside of a few high-profile stunts, Khattab and his Arab volunteers didn't distinguish themselves at all. How do we know? Like another Saudi-born fugitive of note, Khattab was an amateur movie producer, with the rather morbid habit of videotaping all of his battles (one story had him praying for the soul of one martyred cameraman, then making sure to secure the video tape before beating a retreat).

Among his most popular films is one Khattab shot in April of 1996, highlighting the aftermath of a bloody Chechen ambush of a Russian column in which Khattab tosses his long, curly hair over his shoulders and poses with some of the 50-odd charred corpses.

Thanks SP2BF...

Been doing a little backtracking as of late and thought this might need to be (re)posted. Although this comes from Debka, I think the points made bear watching.

Sharon’s Threatened Separation Steps Draw Heavy Fire

"The next three points explain why Sharon is playing for time and explain the real motive behind his threatened “redeployments.”

4. The United States and Islamic fundamentalist terrorist forces are both bracing for a decisive showdown in Iraq estimated to erupt in March-April 2004. Al Qaeda and the Iranian-backed Hizballah have secretly put their ace operative, Imad Mughniyeh, in place in Iraq to lead the Islamic side into battle as its chief of staff. Israel will not be left on the sidelines of this confrontation which could well peak in May or even June, six months hence.

5. As this showdown approaches, Washington is unlikely to let Syria continue to get away with furnishing its enemies in Iraq with arms and funds or shielding the Hizballah terrorists. The coming months are therefore expected to bring the Bush administration to its moment of truth with the Assad regime.

6. Within six months, Iran may have built itself a nuclear bomb – the most dangerous challenge of all to both America and Israel.

Who is Imad Mughniyeh?

‘A psychopath’ "Bin Laden is a schoolboy in comparison with Mughniyeh," says an Israeli who knows Mughniyeh . "The guy is a genius, someone who refined the art of terrorism to its utmost level. We studied him and reached the conclusion that he is a clinical psychopath motivated by uncontrollable psychological reasons, which we have given up trying to understand. The killing of his two brothers by the Americans only inflamed his strong motivation."

Experts on Iraq and Saddam Hussein also believe that Iraq was the state behind the two terror masterminds. "In recent months, there was a change, and Iraq decided to get into the terror business. On July 7th, they tried for the first time to send a suicide bomber, trained in Baghdad, to blow up Tel Aviv airport (Foreign Report No. 2651)."

Our sources believe that it will be very difficult to get to the bottom of this unprecedented terror operation. However, they believe the chief of the Iraqi SSO is Qusai Hussein, the dictator’s son, and his organisation is the most likely to have been involved. Mughniyeh, 48, is a "sick man", says an intelligence officer who was in charge of his file. He is considered by Western intelligence agencies as the most dangerous active terrorist today. He is wanted by several governments and the Americans have put a $2m reward on his head.

[Detailed list of Mughniyeh operations removed for Non-Subscriber Extract]

It was the assassination of one man in March 1984 that is said to have made Mughniyeh the CIA’s most wanted terrorist. Mughniyeh allegedly kidnapped the head of the CIA station in Beirut, William Buckley. The kidnapping triggered what later became known as ‘Irangate’, when the Americans tried to exchange Buckley (and others) with arms for Iran. However, the attempt ended in a fiasco. By one unconfirmed account, Mughniyeh tortured and killed Buckley with his own hands.

A year later, in a combined CIA/Mossad operation, a powerful car bomb went off at the entrance to the house of Hizbullah’s spiritual leader, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah. Seventy-five people were killed. One of them was his brother. Hunted by the CIA and the Mossad, Mughniyeh hid in Iran.

In February 1992, Israeli helicopter gunships attacked the convoy of the then head of Hizbullah, Sheikh Abas Musawi, in South Lebanon. Musawi, his wife and children were killed and the revenge attack followed a month later. According to press reports, Mughniyeh was called back into action and, in a well-planned and devastating attack, his people blew up the Israeli embassy in Argentina. The building was demolished and 92 were killed. Only last year, after a long investigation, did Argentina issue a warrant for Mughniyeh’s arrest.

The reprisal for the attack in Argentina came in December 1994, when a car bomb went off in a southern Shi’ite suburb of Beirut. Four people were killed. One of them was called Mughniyeh, but to the deep disappointment of those Israelis who planted the bomb it was the wrong one. Mughniyeh’s life was saved, but his other brother Fuad was killed. Mughniyeh waited for his opportunity for revenge.

Our Israeli sources claim to see Mughniyeh’s signature on the wreckage in New York and Washington. How to counter this kind of terrorism? "To fight these bastards you don’t need a military attack," said an experienced Israeli commando officer. "You only need to adopt Israel’s assassination policy."

Sometimes you just have to wonder...

Remember the Israeli-Palestinian prisoner release s couple of weeks ago? Look at this article:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=57511

Released Prisoner Immediately Declared Intention to 'Die For Allah'
22:52 Feb 08, '04 / 16 Shevat 5764

Apparently, at least one of the terrorists released two weeks ago doesn't feel obligated by the declaration he signed committing to abstain from violence and terrorist activity.

Though many feared that the bulk of the 400 prisoners Israel released in the prisoner exchange with the Hezbollah terror group would return to their murderous ways, few expected televised declarations of such intentions.

Steven Smyrek, a 32-year-old German terrorist who converted to Islam gave an alarming interview to a German television station almost immediately following the affixation of his signature to a document promising to renounce violence and terrorism.

Before he even left Israel for Germany, Smyrek gave an interview to Eric Friedler, a German documentary maker. "It's an honor to die for Islam and for Allah," he said. "When the order comes you have to carry it out and there's no time to ask if there is a God or not, or to think what will happen after you're dead, without feeling you simply have to lay down your life as Allah decreed."

Smyrek was arrested by the General Security Service in 1997 after arriving in Israel in order to carry out a suicide attack on Israeli Jews. He was convicted and sentenced to ten years in jail. He expressed no remorse in court and declined an offer to serve his time in a German prison. He now speaks fluent Arabic after living with convicted Palestinian and Lebanese terrorists for more than six years and is as determined as ever to turn himself into a human bomb.

His own family in London reacted with concern to news of his release. Karin Wood, his mother, told Britain's Sunday Times, "I'm just terrified to think what he might do, not just to himself but to other innocent people."

Smyrek was born in Germany, moving to England when his mother married an officer in the British Army. He attended military school and even joined the German military briefly before being sent to jail for dealing drugs.

After his release from prison, Smyrek learned about Islam while working at a Turkish kebab shop and was encouraged to join a local mosque. There he met two Hezbollah agents who facilitated his planned terror attack in Israel. Fortunately, two Israeli air marshals were seated to either side of Smyrek as he flew to Israel due to intelligence information suggested he intended to hijack the airplane. He was arrested upon arrival at Ben-Gurion airport.

Smyrek, now a free man, is again able to pass himself off as either British or German as he moves around the Middle East freely with his European Union passport.

German authorities announced last week that Smyrek was one of three prisoners who had opted to remain in Germany rather than continue on to Lebanon.

This one?

http://www.dawn.com/2001/11/10/top1.htm

Osama claims he has nukes: If US uses N-arms it will get same response

By Hamid Mir

KABUL, Nov 9: Osama bin Laden has said that "we have chemical and nuclear weapons as a deterrent and if America used them against us we reserve the right to use them".

He said this in a special interview with Hamid Mir, the editor of Ausaf, for Dawn and Ausaf, at an undisclosed location near Kabul.

This was the first interview given by Osama to any journalist after the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.

The correspondent was taken blindfolded in a jeep from Kabul on the night of Nov 7 to a place where it was extremely cold and one could hear the sound of anti-aircraft guns firing away. After a wait of some time , Osama arrived with about a dozen bodyguards and Dr Ayman Al-Zuwahiri and answered questions.

Hamid Mir: After American bombing on Afghanistan on Oct 7, you told the Al-Jazeera TV that the Sept 11 attacks had been carried out by some Muslims. How did you know they were Muslims ?

Osama bin Laden: The Americans themselves released a list of the suspects of the Sept 11 attacks, saying that the persons named were involved in the attacks. They were all Muslims, of whom 15 belonged to Saudi Arabia, two were from the UAE and one from Egypt. According to the information I have, they were all passengers.Fateha was held for them in their homes. But America said they were hijackers.

HM: In your statement of Oct 7, you expressed satisfaction over the Sept 11 attacks, although a large number of innocent people perished in them, hundreds among them were Muslims. Can you justify the killing of innocent men in the light of Islamic teachings ?

OBL: This is a major point in jurisprudence. In my view, if an enemy occupies a Muslim territory and uses common people as human shield, then it is permitted to attack that enemy. For instance, if bandits barge into a home and hold a child hostage, then the child's father can attack the bandits and in that attack even the child may get hurt.

America and its allies are massacring us in Palestine, Chechenya, Kashmir and Iraq. The Muslims have the right to attack America in reprisal. The Islamic Shariat says Muslims should not live in the land of the infidel for long. The Sept 11 attacks were not targeted at women and children. The real targets were America's icons of military and economic power.

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was against killing women and children. When he saw a dead woman during a war, he asked why was she killed ? If a child is above 13 and wields a weapon against Muslims, then it is permitted to kill him.

The American people should remember that they pay taxes to their government, they elect their president, their government manufactures arms and gives them to Israel and Israel uses them to massacre Palestinians. The American Congress endorses all government measures and this proves that the entire America is responsible for the atrocities perpetrated against Muslims. The entire America, because they elect the Congress.

I ask the American people to force their government to give up anti-Muslim policies. The American people had risen against their government's war in Vietnam. They must do the same today. The American people should stop the massacre of Muslims by their government.

HM: Can it be said that you are against the American government, not the American people ?

OSB: Yes! We are carrying on the mission of our Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him). The mission is to spread the word of God, not to indulge massacring people. We ourselves are the target of killings, destruction and atrocities. We are only defending ourselves. This is defensive Jihad. We want to defend our people and our land. That is why I say that if we don't get security, the Americans, too would not get security.

This is a simple formula that even an American child can understand. This is the formula of live and let live.

HM: The head of Egypt's Jamia Al-Azhar has issued a fatwa (edict) against you, saying that the views and beliefs of Osama bin Laden have nothing to do with Islam. What do you have to say about that ?

OSB: The fatwa of any official Aalim has no value for me. History is full of such Ulema who justify Riba, who justify the occupation of Palestine by the Jews, who justify the presence of American troops around Harmain Sharifain. These people support the infidels for their personal gain.The true Ulema support the Jihad against America. Tell me if Indian forces invaded Pakistan what would you do? The Israeli forces occupy our land and the American troops are on our territory. We have no other option but to launch Jihad.

HM: Some Western media claim that you are trying to acquire chemical and nuclear weapons. How much truth is there in such reports?

OSB: I heard the speech of American President Bush yesterday (Oct 7). He was scaring the European countries that Osama wanted to attack with weapons of mass destruction. I wish to declare that if America used chemical or nuclear weapons against us, then we may retort with chemical and nuclear weapons. We have the weapons as deterrent.

HM: Where did you get these weapons from ?

OSB: Go to the next question.

HM: Demonstrations are being held in many European countries against American attacks on Afghanistan. Thousands of the protesters were non-Muslims. What is your opinion about those non-Muslim protesters ?

OSB: There are many innocent and good-hearted people in the West. American media instigates them against Muslims. However, some good-hearted people are protesting against American attacks because human nature abhors injustice.

The Muslims were massacred under the UN patronage in Bosnia. I am ware that some officers of the State Department had resigned in protest. Many years ago the US ambassador in Egypt had resigned in protest against the policies of President Jimmy Carter. Nice and civilized are everywhere. The Jewish lobby has taken America and the West hostage.

HM: Some people say that war is no solution to any issue. Do you think that some political formula could be found to stop the present war ?

OSB: You should put this question to those who have started this war. We are only defending ourselves.

HM: If America got out of Saudi Arabia and the Al-Aqsa mosque was liberated, would you then present yourself for trial in some Muslim country ?

OSB: Only Afghanistan is an Islamic country. Pakistan follows the English law. I don't consider Saudi Arabia an Islamic country. If the Americans have charges against me, we too have a charge sheet against them.

HM: Pakistan government decided to cooperate with America after Sept 11, which you don't consider right. What do you think Pakistan should have done but to cooperate with America ?

OSB: The government of Pakistan should have the wishes of the people in view. It should not have surrendered to the unjustified demands of America. America does not have solid proof against us. It just has some surmises. It is unjust to start bombing on the basis of those surmises.

HM: Had America decided to attack Pakistan with the help of India and Israel, what would have we done ?

OSB: What has America achieved by attacking Afghanistan ? We will not leave the Pakistani people and the Pakistani territory at anybody's mercy.

We will defend Pakistan. But we have been disappointed by Gen Pervez Musharraf. He says that the majority is with him. I say the majority is against him.

Bush has used the word crusade. This is a crusade declared by Bush. It is no wisdom to barter off blood of Afghan brethren to improve Pakistan's economy. He will be punished by the Pakistani people and Allah.

Right now a great war of Islamic history is being fought in Afghanistan. All the big powers are united against Muslims. It is ' sawab ' to participate in this war.

HM: A French newspaper has claimed that you had kidney problem and had secretly gone to Dubai for treatment last year. Is that correct ?

OSB: My kidneys are all right. I did not go to Dubai last year. One British newspaper has published an imaginary interview with Islamabad dateline with one of my sons who lives in Saudi Arabia. All this is false.

HM: Is it correct that a daughter of Mulla Omar is your wife or your daughter is Mulla Omar's wife ?

OSB: (Laughs). All my wives are Arabs ( and all my daughters are married to Arab Mujahideen). I have spiritual relationship with Mulla Omar. He is a great and brave Muslim of this age. He does not fear anyone but Allah. He is not under any personal relationship or obligation to me. He is only discharging his religious duty. I, too, have not chosen this life out of any personal consideration.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.